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Saturday 13 January 2018

In this Dec. 20, 2015, file photo, Tennessee Titans then-interim head coach Mike Mularkey, left, speaks to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after their
NFL football game, in Foxborough, Mass.

Associated Press

Titans, Jaguars aim to show they’re the real deal in AFC

By BARRY WILNER beat if you want to be the They are, by far, the more In this Dec. 17, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback
AP Pro Football Writer champs,” says Tennessee experienced side: 14 Pa-
The general belief is there coach Mike Mularkey, who triots players have played Tom Brady (12) plays against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in an NFL
are four contenders for the is 0-5 against the Patriots. at least 10 playoff games.
Super Bowl in the NFC, two “You’ve got to beat these That’s more such players football game, in Pittsburgh.
in the AFC. Let’s see if Ten- teams at their place.” than the 11 other 2017 play-
nessee or Jacksonville can Jacksonville already has off teams combined (13). Associated Press
prove that theory wrong done that, routing the Tom Brady has a 6-1 career
this weekend. Steelers at Heinz Field 30-9 record against the Titans, Pro quarterback says. “We matter what happened
Both AFC South represen- in Week 5. “We did beat throwing for 13 TDs and one
tatives are significant un- them the first time, so to interception. He’s 11-2 in know there’s a lot at stake outside of this facility.”
derdogs, the Titans at New have all the confidence 13 divisional-round games
England on Saturday night, coming out of there is in- since 2002 and has com- and I think everyone’s put
the Jaguars at Pittsburgh teresting,” Jaguars DT Malik pleted 316 of 509 passes
on Sunday. For weeks, it’s Jackson says. “They got a for 3,700 yards and 28 TDs a lot into it. It doesn’t really Continued on Page 19
been presumed Steelers bye week, so they’re prob- in those games. And amid
vs. Patriots will decide who ably feeling really confi- reported turmoil involving
goes to the Super Bowl dent. We’ll see Sunday.” Brady, owner Robert Kraft
from the conference. Tennessee (10-7) at New and coach Bill Belichick,
The Titans and Jaguars England (13-3), Saturday the quarterback isn’t likely
want to have their say. All the numbers favor the to lose focus. “We do what
“They’re the champs Patriots extending their re- we always do. We show up
and these are the types cord of consecutive title to work and try to do the
of teams you’ve got to games reached to seven. best we can do,” the All-